Manchester United are well-placed to continue their surge towards the Premier League’s top four following a sixth successive league win to start 2017.

Jose Mourinho’s side got the better of West Ham 2-0 at the London Stadium on Monday courtesy of second half goals from Juan Mata and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

It means that the Red Devils are sixth in the division, yet only two points behind fifth place Arsenal, who themselves are just a point adrift of fourth place Manchester City.

Mourinho’s men struggled in the early part of the campaign to turn draws into victories, but since they managed a 1-0 success over Tottenham at the start of December, they have put an excellent run together, which is now the longest winning streak in the league following Chelsea’s loss to Spurs on Wednesday.

The Red Devils have won 11 of their 20 league games so far this season, but will turn their attentions to the FA Cup this weekend when they host Jaap Stam’s Reading at Old Trafford, hoping to start the defence of the title they won at Wembley last year.

The New Year also means that the transfer window has reopened, and Mourinho is likely to want reinforcements in a bid to sustain a top four challenge in the second half of the campaign.

United have been busy in winter windows gone by, yet they have made some poor decisions in that time, so here are their worst THREE January signings…

Manucho

Former Angolan international Manucho moved to Manchester United in January 2008, but struggled to get regular first team football at Old Trafford.

In fact, he was immediately loaned out to Panathinaikos upon arrival but, even on his return to Manchester later that year, the forward played just 42 minutes of football at United, and was loaned out to fellow Premier League outfit Hull in January 2009.

Manucho was then sold to Spanish side Real Sociedad in the summer of 2009 to bring an end to his miserable time at Old Trafford.

The 33-year-old is now playing in La Liga B with side Rayo Vallecano, where he has been since 2014.

Wilfried Zaha

A bit harsh maybe, but United’s £10 million purchase of Wilfried Zaha in January 2013 didn’t work out for the club or the player.

The tricky winger was sensational at Crystal Palace in the few years preceding his move, and was then loaned back to the Eagles to help them win promotion to the Premier League in the 2012/13 campaign.

However, Zaha was then drafted into the United squad for David Moyes’ first season in charge, yet he made just four appearances for the Red Devils in the first half of the campaign, and was subsequently shipped out on loan to Cardiff for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

The 24-year-old has since returned to Palace, and is beginning to rediscover his best form after a turbulent time at Old Trafford a few years ago.

Diego Forlan

Although Diego Forlan was signed before the winter window was put into place in 2003, he was still signed in January, and did not have the desired effect at Old Trafford despite being a fans’ favourite.

The former Uruguayan international earned a move to the Premier League after netting 33 goals in just 65 games for Argentinian side Independiente, yet he was unable to replicate those numbers in England.

Forlan failed to net in the remainder of the 2001/02 season, and then scored just ten league goals over the course of the next two campaigns, albeit did net a brace to help United see off rivals Liverpool in December 2002.

The striker then secured a move to Villarreal in 2004 after a frustrating spell at Old Trafford.